Bin 2.5 Supply and demand of potable water

Are more water restrictions on the agenda?

The Tools in Bin 2.5 provide some background on water supply and demand issues and modelling for New Zealand cities, recognising that population increase and other societal pressures, as well as the climate, are likely to change over the coming decades.

This tool acknowledges the complexity and interconnectedness of human and natural resource systems. It uses systems-thinking tools to explore the complex dynamics of urban water supply and demand approaches, including relevant social factors, with particular regard to communities adapting to the effects of climate change.

Two modelling tools are presented here: The WaterTrac climate correction modelling tool, which is designed to monitor trends in bulk water production and to provide water utilities with information about climate influences on water demands; and the ClimateTrac modelling tool, which was developed for annual and monthly forecasting of the impacts of climate change on water demands.

This tool provides an overview of a case study using the Greater Wellington Regional Council's Sustainable Yield Model (SYM). One of the objectives of this case study looked at interactions between water supply and demand factors, and climate change trends.